Bridge for stringed musical instruments



Nov. 13, 1956 2,770,158

R. M. BOWMAN BRIDGE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Fi1`ed March 27,1956 IN V EN TOR.

Pia/Ma 50M/wm United States Patent O BRIDGE FOR STRINGED MUSICALINSTRUMENTS Reginald M. Bowman, Baltimore, Md.

Application March 27, 1956, Serial No. 574,315

3 Claims. (Cl. 84-309) The present invention relates to a support forstringed instruments and has for its object to provide a bridge whichwill transport more sound to the body of the instrument than the averagetype bridge and a method of producing a more rigid bridge than hasbefore been obtainable from the same type material.

In the conventional type wooden bridge the strings imbed themselves intothe wood and snubs the vibrations of the string. Further, strings woundwith very line aluminum wire will sometimes be ripped of the string whendrawn through a tight slot on the wooden bridge. Wh-ile some of theabove objections would seem to be partly corrected by metal bridges,they have never been very popular, neither have bridges constructed fromany of the known plastic materials.

While the general object of the invention has been set forth it is quiteprobable that other objects, uses and advantages will become apparent asthe nature of the invention is more fully disclosed which, consists inthe novel construction and the arrangement of its several parts, as setforth in the accompanying drawings and detail description:

Figure l is a perspective view of a Violin in light lines showing thelocation and position of the improved bridge in dark lines.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in elevation of the improved bridge showingmore in detail of the improvement thereof.

Figure 3 is an end view of the same.

Figure 4 is an end View of a bridge constructed from a single piece ofmaterial.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view in elevation of a portion of abridge illustrating in detail the grummet through which the instrumentstring passes.

In referring to the drawings, like character references are used topoint out like and similar parts throughout the several views. Theimproved bridge is indicated by the letter A. The bridge shown in Figure4 is constructed in a single piece, preferably Wood.

The bridge A is provided with suitable feet 13 and 14 and an arcuatedupper edge 15, however while the instrument strings do not rest on theupper edge 15 of the bridge, it is not necessary that `it be in anyparticular form. Extending upwardly a predetermined distance ice fromthe bottom edge of the bridge there is provided a plurality of apertures18, 19, 20 and 21. Each of these apertures is provided with a grummet22, which are all alike and preferably of metal. The grummets line theaperture and extend about the outer edges in the form of shoulders 22and 22". The apertures extend across the upper portion of the bridge apredetermined distance from the feet 13 and 14 and cover a wider spanthan the feet. In use the bridge is placed upon a violin 2S, or othermusical instrument as shown in Figure l in light lines. The Violinstrings 26, 27, 28 and 29 have one end connected with the tail piece 30,after which they are fed through the respective apertures in the bridge,then on over the finger board 31.

The advantage of the grummets in the bridge, is that, upon vibrating thestrings the vibrations are transferred to the whole of the grummet,which as noted hereinbefore as being preferably metal, sets up a bettervibration in the bridge which is transferred to the body of theinstrument.

The preferred form is to construct the bridge of multiple sheets, orplys. This type bridge is many times stronger than those constructedfrom a single piece of wood. When constructed of this ply material thebridge is very sturdy and will not be broken unless placed under veryunusual stresses. Under long tests the multiply ply bridge has neverbeen broken when being properly used.

In Figure 4 there is illustrated a bridge constructed of a single pieceof wood 13 having the grummets placed therein in substantially the samemanner as shown and described in the previous form.

While a preferred form of the invention has been shown and described indetail, it is not intended as a limitation as is obvious that variouschanges and modiications of the device may be made without departingfrom the principles illustrated herein, therefore, what I consider asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is set forth in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A support for the strings of a stringed instrument comprising abridge having a foot at each end and adjacent the bottom thereof forsupporting the bridge upon the instrument, said bridge having aplurality of apertures spaced upwardly from the foot members apredetermined distance across the top portion of the bridge, a grummetsurrounding each of the apertures of a material harder than the materialof the bridge.

2. In a support for the strings of a stringed instrument as set forth inclaim l in which the bridge is constructed of a single piece of materialand being tapered inwardly toward the top.

3. In a support for the strings 0f a straight instrument, as set forthin claim l in which the bridge is constructed of not less than threesheets of relatively thin fibrous material glued together to form amultiple ply structure, said grummets extending through all of the plyswith a shoulder on each outer surface thereof.

No references cited.

